The US government defence
wing, Pentagon, on Friday said that it is closely working with Pakistan to
counter-terrorism in Afghanistan. Pakistan has
allowed American military to flight over the region and also gave access to facilitate
the presence of the US in Afghanistan, reported AFP quoting top Pentagon official. The
statements were made during the Senate Armed Services Committee hearing held on
Friday.

Assistant
Secretary of Defence for Indo-Pacific Affairs David F Helvey also told the
Senate Armed Services Committee that the US will continue its talks with
Pakistan due to tremendous cooperation and significant part it has played to
support the peace process in the neighbouring country tormented by constant
wars and terrorist attacks.

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Helvey’s statement
came in response to a question raised by Senator Joe Manchin during the hearing
about Pakistan’s role and the assessment made by the US before any such
involvement.

“Could you outline
your assessment of Pakistan and specifically the Pakistan Intelligence Service
the ISI, and the role you expect them to play in our future?” Manchin had
asked.

Last month, US President
Joe Biden announced the withdraw of all US troops from Afghanistan by September
11 this year, a decision that received mixed reactions from the Senate.

Senator Jack Reed,
Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, called President’s decision on
troop removal to be seen as a transition, not closure.

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A Republican Party
leader and ranking member Senator James M Inhofe said that he and his party are
opposed to the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan at this point of time.

“The fact that the President chose this date, the 20th anniversary of the most horrific terrorist
attacks in our nation’s history indicates this was a calendar-based political
decision. It was not based on conditions on the ground, which is the strong
bipartisan recommendation Congress has given to both Republican and Democrat
presidents over the last decade,” he said.

The decision to
remove the American troops is based on a landmark deal signed between the US and the Taliban in Doha on February 29 last year. The deal was incorporated to promote
peace and harmony in Afghanistan.